Who We Are

MINERALOGICAL RESEARCH COMPANY is a division of NAZCA INC., a
California corporation, incorporated in 1979. Our current business location is at
15840 East Alta Vista Way, San Jose, CA 95127-1737, USA.

Our sub-logo, from the home page, summarizes our objectives in one
short statement: SEARCHING THE WORLD TO BRING YOU THE FINEST IN MINERAL AND METEORITE
SPECIMENS, AT COMPETITIVE PRICES. For more than 45 years, since 1959, we have been
involved in the study of mineralogy and have been applying the knowledge, gained through
our research, to the acquisition of mineral specimens for all types of collecting needs.
You will find, showcased under our MINERAL SPECIMENS FOR DISPLAY pages, offers of
crystallized minerals for the discriminating collector. If you like beautiful minerals,
check out the color photographs and descriptions of our new acquisitions.

SYSTEMATIC COLLECTION -- If your interest in mineralogy has
broadened to the level where you are now specializing in rare mineral species for
reference, research, or systematic collection, you will be pleased to know that we have a
very active business as suppliers of rare mineral species for specialty collections, as
well as for special research projects. We are continually pursuing the acquisition of
newly described mineral species, unusual minerals to help with special research projects,
locality collections, as well as specialty element collections (i.e., all copper-bearing
minerals, lead-bearing minerals, native elements, uranium and other radioactive minerals,
etc.). Check our SYSTEMATIC COLLECTION pages for additional information and listings of
rare or hard to obtain mineral species available.

FLUORESCENT MINERALS -- We stock one of the largest selections of
rare and unusual fluorescent minerals in the world. Specimens of all sizes are available
for reference collection, as well as large display pieces.

ULTRAVIOLET
LAMPS -- Many different types are available in a wide range of models for field use,
handheld for home, laboratory, and shop use, as well as large units for illumination of
home or institutional display.

In the MINERAL BOOKS section we feature listings of new books
that are of interest to the mineral collector. Titles include books covering special
mineral/mining localities, new books covering mineralogy, geology, gemology, fluorescent
minerals, micromounts, etc. Check out the MINERAL BOOKS page, to access the descriptive
write-ups on books you may want to add to your reference library. Also included on the
MINERAL BOOKS page is information on how to obtain our price list covering used, one of a
kind mineral and geology books.

The MINERALOGICAL RECORD is a bimonthly magazine written by and
for mineral collectors, currently in its 28th year of publication. We offer back issues
for sale, and we also buy back issues -- check out the MINERALOGICAL RECORD buy/sell
pages. We maintain a very large selection of back issues for sale, and provide a search
system for collectors who are looking for hard to obtain, older issues to help complete
their collections.

METEORITES, TEKTITES and MOLDAVITES -- We have been dealing in
meteorites and tektites for private collections, as well as for institutional display,
since 1980. Selections are featured from worldwide localities including many fine, display
quality iron, stony, stony-iron, etc. meteorites individually described, and illustrated.
A separate snail mail listing, covering meteorites and tektites, as well as moldavites and
other related items from worldwide localities, is also available. Click on the METEORITES,
TEKTITES and MOLDAVITES heading on the home page for details re: how to obtain other lists
by snail mail.

The METEORITE AND TEKTITE BOOKS section features new books
covering meteorites and tektites, and related subjects. A separate price list covering
used, one of a kind meteorite and tektite books, is available for snail mailing. Check out
the METEORITE BOOKS page for additional information.

FULGURITES AND TRINITITE - These unique items are created by
tremendous natural, and man-made releases of energy. FULGURITE is the name given to fused
Silica, which has been fused by lightning striking the Earth and locally melting the sand
or rock. The best known Fulgurites are found in Quartz sands where the Fulgurites take the
form of tubes, sometimes exceeding a half-inch or more in diameter, as illustrated.
TRINITITE - Early in the morning on July 16, 1945, the first atomic bomb explosion was
detonated near Alamogordo, New Mexico. The tremendous heat from this first atomic
explosion formed a crater 800 yards in diameter, glazed with a dull gray-green, glass-like
substance where the sand had melted and solidified again. This glass-like material, unique
to this one day and event in history, was named Trinitite.

BOXES, BOXES, BOXES ! ! ! We have what you need to store and
display specimens of all kinds. Micromount boxes in 15 different colors, two-tone
micromount boxes, paleomagnetic sampling cubes, two sizes of magnifier boxes, white cotton
filled specimen and jewelry boxes, white folding boxes and gem display boxes are
available. Also in stock are four sizes of plastic display bases, as well as various
display stands. Check out the SPECIMEN BOXES page!

MINERAL AND GEMSTONE GIFTS, JEWELRY, LAPIDARY ARTS - Shop
frequently in this section for an ever-changing selection of mineral and gemstone gifts
including hand crafted gemstone carvings, as well as collectible display bowls fashioned
of semi-precious gemstone materials. Unique estate and designer jewelry pieces are
individually illustrated for your year-round, at-home shopping needs for special gifts for
friends, family, and for you!

SUMMARY -- We are a service oriented business with your
satisfaction in mind. Our inventory consists of over 100,000 mineral specimens including
display quality, rare species for research and systematic collection, as well as a very
wide variety of fluorescent minerals. Our meteorite/tektite inventory consists of over
3,000 specimens, in addition to numerous one of a kind specimens available from various
private collections. We also stock a large variety of books, as well as specimen boxes,
display stands, ultraviolet lamps....you name it, we've got it! Since we are a service
oriented business, we care about your collection requirements. If we don't have what you
need in stock, we are dedicated to doing everything possible to find exactly what you want
in the size and quality you are looking for, at the most reasonable possible price!
We ship anywhere - - worldwide!